Furnace



Aug. 18, 1931. w, G. HERscHELL.

FUHNACE Filed Oct. 29, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l .Q V lmk- N I \m\` u Q 1 Hi- LQ k WM l tw E 1 Q@ N .Sq wf. Ev um w Nw NN N NEW l1 N1* .H T 1%....v Q ma Ill LW N k.. Nw m. ...Mm MR. u W a. w m vw @Sw N/ w I iI||.l|| u k w SN N a w RN y Nw mw NNN Aug. 18, 1931. w. G. HERscHELLFURNACE Filed Oct. 29. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 x ,In l

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lllllll l- Au8- 18, 1931 w. G. HERscHELL FURNACE Filedoct. 29, leso mm s Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEWALTER G. HEBSCEELL, OF WILKES-BABRE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WILLIAMF. OTTO, 0F HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA F'UBNACE Application filed October29, 1930. Serial No. 491,867.

My invention relates to furnaces of the character employed for domesticheating purposes, that is, the heating of houses, an it has for itsgeneral object to provide a fur- `ijnace of novel construction of acharacter such that it may be manufactured and sold at low cost ascompared with furnaces now on the market and available, as far as I amaware.

It also has for its object to provide a furnace in which mechanicalmeans is provided for supplying lsolid fuel to the fuel chamber and forsimultaneously removing by mechanical means the ash resulting from thecombustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grate rotatable abouta vertical axis in combination or association with means locatedeccentrically thereof for facilitating the combustion of fuel within thefuel chamber, and also for facilitating the removal of the ash resultingfrom such combustion.

I shall not set forth more fully at this time the various objects of theinvention but shall roceed with a detailed description thereo whereinfurther and additional objects will be referred to specifically or elsewill be apparent.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its practicaladvantages fully appreciated, reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated one embodiment of theinvention. However, it will be understood that the invention may beembodied in constructions other than that disclosed and that changes inthe details of construction may be made within the scope of the claimswithout departing from the invention or the principle thereof.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view in sectional elevation of apparatusembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a fragmentary portion of theconical grate taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a view in end elevation looking from the right toward the leftin Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. l;and Y Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of the lower portion of the furnace,the means through which fuel is conveyed to the furnace and throughwhich ashes are conveyed therefrom being shown in cross section.

In the drawings I have shown at 1 a furnace the wall of which comprisesspaced plates as shown and within the lower portion of which a grate 2is rotatably supported. The grate is of frustoconical shape as shown andcomprises a plurality of tapered or wedge-shaped sections, as indicatedthe lower ends of which terminate in horizontally extending portions 3each of which terminates in a downwardly extending flange 4. Thesections composing the grate are arranged in edge to edge relation, asshown, and the combined portions 3 constitute a fiat disc-shaped portionhaving an opening 5 at the center thereof which 1s in alinement with avertical opening 6 provided in a base or support 7 for the grate andother parts of the structure as hereinafter will be pointed out. Thesupport 7 is in turn adjustably mounted upon and supported by a pedestall0. The rate is supportedA upon a circular wheelike member comprising acentral hub-like portion 11 from which radiate spokes or arms 12 on theouter ends of which is supported an annular or ring member 13 the underside of which is provided with gear teeth 14. The said wheel-like member1s composed of two sections secured together by means of bolts 14. Thehub-like portion 11 surrounds and is held in position by the upwardlyprojecting portion 15 of the support 7 The hublike por tion 11 restsupon a ball bearing device 1T mounted upon a shoulder 18 provided nearthe upper end of the support 7. The combined projections or flanges 4upon the inner ends or sections of the rate form an annular orring-shaped portion which rests upon the upper inner edge of the hubportion 11. The sections of the grate are provided with downwardly andslightly outwardly inclined projections or flanges 20 upon their undersides the lower edges of which contact with the upper sides of the armsor spokes 12. For securing the grate to the circular wheel-like member Iemploy bolts 21 the heads of which are seated in counter-sunk openings22 provided in the horizontal portion 3 of the grate. These openings areof slot shape so as to facilitate the insertion of the bolts throughopenings rovided in the arms or spokes l2. The lbwer ends of the bolts21 are engaged by nuts 23 by which the grate is held tightly andimmovable relatively to the wheel-like support previously referred to.

A cone-shaped member 25 is supported above the opening 6 and ineccentric relation thereto and to the axis of the circular walls of thefurnace 1. That is to say, the axis of the cone-shaped member 25 islocated eccentrically of the axis or center of the opening 6 of thesupport 7. For the purpose of supporting the cone-shaped member 25 inplace within the combustion chamber of the furnace it is provided withlegs 26 which project from its lower edge, there being four of said legsalthough a greater or lless number may be employed if desired. Theselegs extend into slots or notches 27 provided upon the inner side of theupper end portion of the support 7. The lower end of the member 25 1sspaced above the horizontal portion 3 of the" grate. The member 25 beinglocated eccentrically with respect to the axis of the furnace it will beapparent that the distance between the said member 25 and the innersides of the walls of the furnace will vary. For example, the distancefrom the right hand side of the member 25 to the opposing portion of theinner side of the wall of the furnace is greater than the distance fromthe opposite side of the said member 25 to the Vopposing portion of thesaid wall. The member 25 is held stationary whereas the grate in theoperation of the furnace rotates step by step as hereinafter will befully described. At this point, however, reference will be made to a,sectional rim 30 which is supported upon the upper outer edge of thegrate 2. The inner upper side of the rim is inclined inwardly anddownwardly as shown, while the outer side thereof is cylindrical andfits the inner side of the furnace wall. The outer side of the rim 30extends a considerable distance below the upper edge of the grate 2, theextension bein circular and constituting what may be re erred to as askirt 31. Both the grate 2 and the rim 30 are provided with openings 33which permit the upward passage or flow of air into the combustionchamber of the furnace. Rotation of the rim 30 is prevented by means ofprojections or stops 35 which extend downwardly from the lower edge ofthe skirt 31 and engage projections or stops 36 which are provided uponthe inner side of the furnace wall near the lower end thereof. There maybe one or more projections 35 and 36.

The means for rotating the wheel member and the grate supported therebycomprises a spur gear 40 mounted upon a shaft 41 and being in engagementwith the gear teeth 14 upon the under side of the rim 13. One end of theshaft 4l extends through the support 7 and is supported thereby,4 whilethe opposite end is supported in a bearing 42. The shaft 41 is rotatablydriven step by step by means of a pawl and ratchet device comprising apawl 45 and a ratchet wheel 46. The latter is rigidly connected with ashort shaft 47 rotatably mounted in bearings 48. The inner end of theshaft 47 is connected by a universal joint connection 49 with the innerend of the shaft 41. The pawl 45 is mounted between ad'oining parallelbars the lower end portions o which are spaced and are pivotally mountedupon the outer opposite ends of the hub of the ratchet wheel 46. Thesebars are secured together and constitute an arm 5() which isoscillatable or pivotal. Oscillation or pivotal movement of the arm 50is effected by means of a link 5l having connection at one end with theupper end of the said arm and at its opposite end with a crank arm 52mounted upon a shaft 53 upon which is rigidly mounted a gear 54 which islocated Within the casing 55. The gear is driven by means of a worm 56provided u on the shaft 57 of an electric motor 58. or the purpose ofvarying the oscillations of the arm 50 the connection of the ends of thellink 51 to the said arm and to the crank arm 52 may be changed. Bychanging these connections the extent of oscillation of the arm 50 maybe varied. Reverse movement of the ratchet wheel 46 is prevented bymeans of a weighted holding dog 60.

Coal or other solid fuel of suitable character is delivered to thefurnace from a hopper to which it may be supplied. The lower end of thehopper is in communication with a conduit 66 the inner end of whichprojects through an opening in the wall of the furnace and terminatesupon the interior of the said furnace. The said conduit is located, asshown, a suitable and substantial distance above the grate 2.

For the purpose of feeding the coal or ing of two sections 67 and 68which are coupled together at their inner ends by a coupling 69. Eachsection is provided with a spiral 70. These spirals are so arranged thatupon rotation of the shaft in the proper direction the coal will bemoved from the lower end of the hopper 65 through the conduit into thefurnace 1.

For the purpose of rotating the shaft I have mounted upon the outer endof the section 67 thereof a ratchet wheel 71 which is rigidly secured tothe said shaft and which is adapted to be rotated together with the saidshaft step by step by means of a pawl 72. The pawl is mounted upon theupper end of one arm of a bell crank lever 73 consisting of two membersarranged upon opposite sides of the ratchet wheel 71 and supported uponthe opposite ends of the hub of the latter. A link 74, consisting of twoparts adjustably connected together by means of a bolt 75, is connectedat one end to the outer end of the other arm of the said bell cranklever and at its opposite end to a crank arm 76 mounted upon the shaft53 at the end opposite that to which the crank arm 52 is connected. Ithas been explained already that the shaft 53 is rotatably driven and itfollows, therefore, that the crank arm 76 is rotated and effectsreciprocatory movements of the link 74 to cause oscillatory movements ofthe bell crank lever 73 to thereby7 effect step by step rotation of theshaft which consists of the coupled members 67 and 68. By adjusting theconnection be tween the opposite ends of the link 74 with the longer armof the bell crank' lever 73 and with the crank arm 76 the operation ofthe spiral fuel feeding means may be varied.

The hopper 65 is supported upon the outer end portion of the conduit 66,which portion is disconnectible from the main portion of the conduit.The said outer end portion is provided with depending legs or arms 77which are slotted and which overlie the upper portions of upright postsor columns 78. The legs or arms 77 are provided with slots 79 for thereception of binding and holding bolts 80 by which the said legs 77 andposts 78 may be adjustably fastened together.

For the purpose of supplying air for combustion to the interior of thefurnace I have provided a fan or blower mounted upon the motor shaft 57and located within a casing 86. The casing 86 is in communication with aconduit 87 the inner end of which terminates in a closed chamber of thefurnace located below the grate 2. The operation of the fan or blower isto drive, the air into the chamber underneath the grate from which itescapes upwardly through the openings 33 into the combustion chamber ofthe furnace to eiect combustion of the fuel supplied to the furnace fromthe hopper 65 through the conduit 66. To regulate the supply of airthrough the conduit 87 I have provided an adjustable damper 88.

Simultaneously with the supply of fuel to the furnace the ash resultingfrom the comd bustion of the fuel is discharged from the grate throughthe space between the lower end of the member 25 and the portion 3 ofthe grate into the opening 6 from which it is conveyed outwardly througha conduit 90 by means of a spiral conveyer 91 the supporting shaft' 92of which is driven from the shaft 41 by means of gears 93 and 91, theformer being mounted upon the shaft 41 and the latter upon the shaft 92.The conduit 90 extends through and rests upon the bottom of the conduit87 and is held in position therein by means of binding screws 94. Theouter end of the conduit 90 terminates in adjoining relation to theouter end of the said conduit 87. The ash which is discharged from theouter end of the conduit 90 may be disposed of in any convenient andeconomical manner.

The outer end of the shaft 92 is squared and adapted to be engaged by asuitable instrument or tool for manually rotating the shaft togetherwith the spiral conveyer 91 to remove the ash which is dischargedthrough the opening 6. Likewise the outer end of the section 67 of thetwo-part shaft having spiral conveyers mounted thereon is provided witha squared end for the reception of the same or a similar instrument ortool for manually rotating the fuel feeding means for the delivery ofcoal as desired to the furnace.

For the purpose of supporting the outer end portion of the conduit 87,the fan casing 86, and the motor I have provided posts or standards 95upon which is mounted a cross bar 96 provided with a. depression forminga cradle 97 Within which the lower side of the conduit and casing isseated. The conduit at its opposite end is supported upon a bracket-likemember 98.

It may be noted that for the purpose of providing a well-balancedstructure the casing 55 and the parts supported thereby and the motor 58are supported upon the opposite sides of the fan casing 86, and that thefuel supply hopper 65 and the means for feeding the fuel from saidhopper are 1ocated directly above and in the plane of the fan casing 86.

The conduit 66 through which fuel is conveyed to the combustion chamberof the furnace is projected through an opening 100 provided in the loweredge of the door 101 which closes the usual opening in a furnace throughwhich fuel may be supplied by hand to the fuel chamber. The opening 100is provided in the outer or swinging end portion of the door oppositethe hinges in order that if desired the door 101 may be opened to permitthe supply of fuel to the furnace in the usual manner. For the purposeof closing the opening 100 the plate 102 1s provided Which is slidablymounted on the conduit 66 and may be held in position to close theopening 100 by means of a binding nut 103.

In the operation of the apparatus the coal or other solid fuel is fedfrom thc hopper through the conduit 6G into the furnace, the said fuelfalling from its point of delivery onto the grate 2 or onto the top offuel which may be resting upon the grate. The fuel is delivered inadjoining relation to that side of the furnace which is farthest awayfrom the stationary Inember 25. The grate 2, which rotates step by stepin clockwise direction, conveys or tends to convey the coal from itspoint of delivery around the stationary member 25. In being thusconveyed it is carried from the wider space between the member 25 andthe wall of the furnace into the narrower space at the left hand side ofthe said member 25 (having reference to Fig. l of the drawings). Inbeing thus conveyed from a wider to a narrower space the tendency is todisplace the particles of fuel relatively to each other, and if the ashhas run together, or if there should be a tendency to the formation ofclinker the same would be broken up and the ash and disintegratedclinlrer would be pushed underneath the lower edge of the left handportion of the member 2.5 into the passageway 6. Having reached thepassageway 6 the discharged ash and ciinker, if any, would descend tothe lower end thereof and would be conveyed therefrom by the spiralconveyer 91 through the conduit 90 to the discharge end thereof.

Usually the apparatus will be provided with a thernuistatic device ofany known construction for controlling the operation of the motor tothereby control the operation of the fuel feeding means and the ashdischarge means. Such thermostatic device would, as usual, be controlledby the temperature of some selected portion of the building for theheating of which the furnace is employed. The operation of suchthermostat-ic device is Well understood and for that reason is notillustrated.

It will be seen that by my invention YI have provided an apparatus ofsimple construction which comprises a hopper for holding such supply offuel as may be desired in association with means for continuouslyfeeding the fuel to the furnace from the said hopper and with means forcontinuously removing from the said furnace the ash resulting from thecombustion of the fuel therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a furnace, the combination of step by step rotatable means fordischarging fuel into the combustion chamber of the furnace, said fuelbeing delivered in adjoining relation to the inner side of the Wall ofsaid furnace, a rotatable grate at the bottom of the combustion chamberupon which the f'uel is delivered, the said grate having a centralopening through which ash is removed from the combustion chamber, astationary tapered member located in the combustion chamber and beingpositioned in eccentric relation to the axis of and in spaced relationabove the said grate, one side portion of the said member being locateda greater distance from the opposing Wall of the said furnace than thatof the opposite side of the said member from the oppositely disposedportion of the said wall, the fuel being delivered in adjoining relationto the first named portion of the said wall and being conveyed from itspoint of delivery to the opposite portion of said Wall about the saidmember.

2. In a furnace, the combustion of means for feeding fuel continuouslyto the combustion chamber of' the furnace, a rotatable frusto-conicalgrate located at the bottom of the furnace onto which the said fuel isdischarged, a rotatable member to which the said grade is secured and bywhich it is supported, means for causing rotation of said membertogether with the said grate, the said grate having a central openingthrough which the ash resulting from combustion is discharged, astationary tapered member located in the combustion chamber and locatedeccentrically of the grate and with respect to said opening, and meansfor supporting the lower end of said member in spaced relation to theupper surface of the said grade.

3. In a furnace, the combination of a frusto-conical grate located atthe bottom of the combustion chamber of the furnace having an openingtherein, means for causing rotation of the said grade, and a stationarymember located in the combustion chamber of' the said furnace ineccentric relation to the axis of rotation of said grate and withrespect to said opening, the lower end of said member being supported inspaced relation to the upper surface of the said lfrate.

4. n a furnace, the combination of a frusto-conical grate located at thebottom of the combustion chamber thereof, a rim supported upon andprotecting the upper edge of the said grate, the inner upper side ofsaid rim being inclined inwardly and downwardly', the said grade havinga central opening for the discharge of ash from the combustion chamber,means for causing lib rotation of said grate, a tapered stationarymember supported above and in eccentric relation to the center of theopening through the said grate, the lower end of said member beingspaced from the upper surface of the said grate to provide an outletthrough which the ash enters the said opening, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a furnace, the combination of a grate located at the bottom f thecombustion chamber of the furnace, the sides of the said grate extendinginwardly and downwardly from the outer edge thereof, said edge beinglocated in adjoining relation to the inner side of the Wall of the saidfur nace, a rim supported upon the outer upper edge of the said grate,said rim having a skirt extending outside of and below the outer edge ofthe said grate, a rotatable support for said grate, means for causingrotation of the said support and grate, the said grate having an openingat its center for the discharge of ash from the combustion chamber ofthe furnace. a tapered stationary member' supported in the combustionchamber above the said grate` the axis of said tapered member beingdisplaced with respect to the axis of rotation of the said grate,projections extending through the opening of said grate, a support withwhich the said projections are in engagement for supporting the saidmember, the said projections supporting the said member with its loweredge in spaced relation to the upper surface of the said grate.

6.111 a furnace, the combination of a frusto-conical grate located atthe bottom of the combustion chamber of the furnace, a support for saidgrate, means for causing rotation of said support and the said grate,the said grate having a central opening therethrough for the dischargeof ash from the combustion chamber, a member located within the saidcombustion cham ber and supported with its lower end in spaced relationto the upper surface of t-he said grate, the said member being of conical shape and its axis being in eccentric :relation to the axis of thesaid furnace whereby the area between the inner side of the said furnaceand the said member is of varying width, and means for delivering fuelto that portion of the said area which is of greater width, the saidfuel being conveyed from its point of delivery to that portion of thesaid area which is of less width.

7. In a. furnace, the combination of a grate having a central flatportion having an opening therein and an outwardly upwardly 1nclinedportion, the outer upper edge of the latter terminating in adjoiningrrelation to the inner side of the furnace wall. means for rotatablysupporting said grate, stationary means supported in the fuel chamber ofthe furnace above the flat portion of the said rate and in spacedrelation to the grate for orming a discharge passage for the ash fromthe said combustion chamber, and means for rotating the grate andcausing movement of the fuel and ash supported thereby as it travelsabout the stationa means, and discharging the ash beneath the stationarymeans.

8. In a furnace, the combination of a stationary hollow support, a graterotatably mounted on the support, means for rotating the grate, atapered member s aced from the support aud supported there y ineccentric relation tothe axis of the grate, tending to break up clinkerformation and the discharge of ash into the hollow support on rotationof the grate, and conveyor means associated with said hollow support forthe removal of ash from the furnace.

9. In a furnace, the combination of rotatable means for discharging fuelinto the combustion chamber of the furnace, a rotatable grate onto whichthe fuel is delivered having an opening therein, means for causingrotation of said grate to convey the fuel around the axis of rotation ofsaid grate, and stationary means located above the grate in spacedrelation thereto, and arranged eccentrically of the grate and withrespect to said opening tending to break up clinker formation and tocause discharge of ash from the combustion chamber of the furnace as thegrate rotates.

10. In a furnace, the combination of step by step rotatable means forfeeding solid fuel to the combustion chamber of the said furnace, arotatable grate having an opening therein upon which fuel is discharged,a member supported above and spaced from said grate and locatedeccentrically thereof and with respect to said opening, said gratehaving rotary motion with respect to said member for conveying the fuelabout said member for automatically removing the ash from the combustionchamber, a conduit having communication with the opening in the bottomof said grate into which ash is discharged, a rotatable conveyor forconveying ash through said conduit, a motor having a motor shaft, andmeans interposed between said shaft and the said rotatable fuel feedingmeans and ash discharging means for causing rotation thereof,substantially as described.

11. In a furnace, the combination of a spiral conveyer for supplyingsolid fuel to the combustion chamber of the furnace, a grate located inthe lower end of said furnace for receiving and supporting fuel, saidgrate having a central opening therein through which ash is adapted tobe discharged from said furnace, a member supported above and spacedfrom said grate and located eccentrically thereof and with las- respectto said opening, means for rotating the grate With respect to saidmember for conveying the fuel about said member, a conduit forreceiving` the ash discharge through the opening in the grate, a spiralconveyer for conveyingr ash through and discharging the same from thelast named conduit, a. motor having a shaft, connections between saidshaft and the spirfll eonveyers for supplying fuel to the furnace andfor conveying ash therefrom for causing step by step rotatingT movementof the said conveyers, and a fan mounted upon the said shaft for causinga flow of air through the said grate and the Suid combustion Chamber tosupply the oxygen for supporting combustion of the fuel Within midchamber.

l2. In a furnace, the combination of a r0- tatnhle grate having anopening therein upon which fuel is discharged, and a member supportedabove and spaced from said grate and located eccentrimilly thereof andwith reepect to Awir] opening, means for causing rotation of snif] gratewith respect to said member, there-hy moving the fuel about said member:1nd eifertimr the discharge of the ugh from the combustion chamber ofSaid furnace.

ln testimony that l claim the foregoing as my invention.` I havehereunto signed my name this 25th day of Oct., 1930.

VVAL'IER G. HERSCHELL.

respect to said opening, means for rotating the grate with respect tosaid member for conveying the fuel about said member, a conduit forreceiving the ash discharge through the opening in the grate, a spiralconveyer for conveying ash through and discharging the same from thelast named conduit, a motor having a shaft, connections between saidshaft and the spiral conveyors for supplying fuel to the furnace and forconveying ash therefrom for causing step by step rotating movement ofthe said conveyers, and a fan mounted upon the said shaft for causing aflow of air through the said grate and the said combustion chamber tosupply the oxygen for supporting combustion of the fuel Within saidchamber.

12. In a furnace, the combination of a rotatable grate having an openingtherein upon which fuel is discharged7 and a member supported above and.spaced from said grate and located ccccntrieally thereof and withrespect to .said opening. means for causing rotation of said grate. withrespect to .said member, thereby moving the fue] about said member andeffecting the discharge of the ash from the combustion chamber of saidfurnace.

In testimony that i claim the foregoing as my invention, I ha vchereunto signed my name this 25th day of Oct.. 1930.

WALTER G. HERSCHELL.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,819, 555.

Granted August 18, 1931, to

WALTER G. HERSCHELL.

lt is herebyl certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 4, line 92, claim 2, for the word "combustion" read combination;same page, lines 98 and 109, claim 2, line 114, claim 3, and line 128,claim 4, for the word "grade" read grate; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with these corrections therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent 0ffice.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of September, A. D, 193i.

(Seal) M. I. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,819,555, Granted August 18, 1931, to

WALTER G. HERSCHELL.

lt is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4,line 92, claim 2, for the word "combustion" read combination; same page,lines 98 and 109, claim 2, line 114, claim 3, and line 128, claim 4, forthe word "grade" read grate; and that the said Letters Patent should beread with these corrections therein that the same may conform to therecord of the case in the Patent 0ffice.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of September, A. D, 193i.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

